Bruce Eaton at the East Outlet

Salmon Technique: Change Places, Change Rigging, Make Him Want It!

Fly fishing success isn't all luck, but luck plays a major role for sure. That's why the guy fishing 10 feet away from you hooks up and you don't when you're both fishing the same flies and rigs. "If the fish wants your fly, he takes it." True, but why? And how can we hook up more? We have to think like a fish. Say we're fishing a Salmon and Trout River in the fall. It's cold, the fish are aggressive and fattening up for winter. That's in our favor, but where will they be in the river?

We have to cover each foot from the head of the run to the tail out, so what I try to do is divide the big river into little rivers, covering the water in a grid, and fishing at every depth. I try to keep my feet moving, shuffling slightly up or downstream with each cast and casting upstream, side stream, downstream, before I move. Then, I try to hook bottom. TRY. Because I want to make sure I've fished thoroughly from top to bottom. So, I change rigging to do that. I'll fish progressively deeper with either weighted flies or sinking line, or both, and always keeping a sharp eye on the surface for rising fish. Hell, I could be probing the deep water with a Clouser when the fish are feeding on a surface hatch of midges! I have to be flexible, willing to change rigs to suit the fish.

What can I do to make the fish WANT my fly? We're all over that thought, for sure. But when you consider all the options we have, there's an infinite variety of presentation, more ways to cast, more ways to retrieve. And, in the fall, stripping the streamer really fast can make Trout and Salmon really crazy for your fly. How much variety can we use in casting and retrieving our fly? Again, possibly infinite. Try casting way upstream, letting the belly of the line precede the fly and strip as fast as you can. Baitfish will take the path of least resistance when fleeing for their lives, so imitate the terrified and strip the fly downstream! So many fly fishers cast down and across, letting the fly swing lazily, never varying the speed, never changing the depth, perhaps missing chances to hook up. Next time, add to your repertoire and change your places, change your rigging and make the fish want your fly!

Next time you're fishing for fall Salmon, even if you don't get lucky, you'll feel more satisfied you covered the water, top to bottom if you try harder with your presentation, and become more willing to work the fly!